Trade schools in Bay Area communities have a proven track record of producing highly-skilled professionals who go on to lucrative, successful careers in various technical fields. While many local vocational schools are geared toward IT students who want to become part of the region’s thriving computer technology industry, there are also numerous institutions that focus on the arts, medical sciences and every other career path one may wish to pursue. In fact, the Bay Area’s network of nearly 100 different trade school programs matches Los Angeles for the title of California’s largest.
Job Outlook for Bay Area Trade School Graduates
According to both the state’s Employment Development Department and Moody’s five-year employment forecast, the nine Bay Area counties should expect to see steady job growth in several industries that are traditionally associated with being trade school careers. Those local industries projected to outpace the national average in job growth by 3% or better include:
- Construction
- Education and Health Services
- Financial Activities
- Information
- Leisure and Hospitality
- Professional and Business Services
- Transportation and Warehousing
Of the aforementioned fields, Construction and Information in particular are expected to boom in the Bay Area with job creation rates among the highest of any area in the country. Construction is projected to see a job increase of 22.9% in Santa Cruz County (highest in the Western U.S.) and Information-related jobs are expected to grow at one of the highest rates in the state over the next five years in the city of San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Another career path promising a particularly bright future for Bay Area trade school graduates is Education and Health Services. Of the specific occupations expected to see the fastest rate of growth in the Bay Area through 2018, Home Health Aides and Physical Assistants are expected to be in extremely high demand with job growth percentages for each in excess of 40%.
Directory of Accredited Trade Schools in Bay Area
As is the case with all vocational schools in California, the highest-quality trade schools in Bay Area communities are accredited by the California Department of Education. The following directory lists all accredited programs in the Bay Area as of June 2011.
These are the fully-accredited Bay Area vocational schools listed by community:
Alameda
Argosy University San Francisco Bay Area, 1005 Atlantic Ave., Alameda, CA 94501
Bartending, Culinary Arts
Concord
Dickinson-Warren College, 2702 Clayton Rd. Ste. 201, Concord, CA 94519
Automotive
Daly City
DeVry University – Daly City, 2001 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, CA 94014
Art and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Fremont
DeVry University – Fremont, 6600 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555
Art and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Gaming, Massage Therapy, Rehabilitational Therapy, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
WyoTech – Fremont, 200 Whitney Place, Fremont, CA 94539
Automotive, Machinist, Plumber
Hayward
Construction Craft Training Center, 26232 Industrial Blvd., Hayward, CA 94545
Construction
Everest College – Hayward, 22336 Main St., Hayward, CA 94541
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Dental Assistant, Nursing
Property Management Training Institute, 111 Jackson St. Ste. A, Hayward, CA 94544
Construction
Oakland
DeVry University – Oakland, 505 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612
Art and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
San Francisco
Charity Cultural Services Center, 827 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Bartending
City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112
Culinary Arts
Everest College – San Francisco, 814 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Dental Assistant, Nursing
Golden Gate University – San Francisco, 536 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Automotive, Fashion Design
Delancey Street Academy, 600 Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94115
Automotive
The Art Institute of California – San Francisco, 1170 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102
Bartending, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Fashion Design, Gaming, Television and Film
San Francisco Hospitality Management Training, 814 Mission St. Ste. 500, San Francisco, CA 94103
Bartending
San Jose
Center for Employment Training, 701 Vine St., San Jose, CA 95110
Automotive
DeVry University – San Jose, 2160 Lundy Ave., San Jose, CA 95131
Art and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Everest College – San Jose North, 1245 South Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Dental Assistant, Nursing
International Institute of Professional Executive Protection, 370 B South 22nd St., San Jose, CA 95116
Private Investigation
Pacific Technical Institute, 560 Coleman Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
Automotive
University of Phoenix – Bay Area Campus, 3590 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95134
Art and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Santa Clara
Automotive Training Corp. of Northern California, 990 Richard Ave. #108, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Automotive
Golden Gate University – San Jose, 5201 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054
Automotive, Fashion Design
Santa Rosa
Bartender’s School of Santa Rosa, 1731 Amalgam Way, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Bartending
Empire College – Santa Rosa, 3035 Cleveland Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95403
Bartending, Culinary Arts
Sunnyvale
The Art Institute of California – Sunnyvale, 1120 Kifer Rd., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Culinary Arts, Fashion Design, Gaming
Vallejo
Falcon Truck School, 2402 Sacramento St., Vallejo, CA 94590
Automotive
The following accredited Bay Area trade schools offer either part, or the entirety of their curriculum online:
Online Trade Schools
Abilene Christian University – Online
Nursing
Allied Health Institute
Dental Assistant
American InterContinental University Online
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
American Military University
Bartending, Culinary Arts
Anthem College
Dental Assistant
Argosy University Online
Business, Computers and Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Healthcare and Medical, Paralegal, Private Investigation
Art Institute Online
Arts and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Gaming, Healthcare and Medical, Rehabilitational Therapy, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Web Design and Web Management
Ashworth College
Arts and Design, Automotive, Bartending, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Dental Assistant, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare Office Management, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Ashworth University – Home Study Training
Automotive, Healthcare and Medical, Machinist, Massage Therapy, Plumber
A.T. Still University
Dental Assistant
Baker College Online
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Gaming, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Bellevue University
Automotive
Brookline College
Nursing, Web Design and Web Management
Bryant and Stratton College Online
Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Television and Film
California InterContinental University
Automotive
Central Penn College
Arts and Design, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Fashion Design, Massage Therapy, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Colorado Technical University Online
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
DeVry University
Arts and Design, Automotive, Bartending, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Gaming, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
ECPI Online
Arts and Design, Construction, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Television and Film, Web Design and Web Management
Everest University Online
Arts and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Full Sail University Online
Bartending, Culinary Arts, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Gaming, Television and Film
Glion Institute of Higher Education
Bartending, Culinary Arts
Gonzaga University
Automotive, Nursing
Grand Canyon University
Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel
Grantham University
Automotive, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Television and Film, Web Design and Web Management
Harrison College
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Fashion Design, Television and Film
Independence University
Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel
Jones International University
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel
Kaplan University
Arts and Design, Bartending, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Nursing, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Keiser University
Arts and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Dental Assistant, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel
Minnesota School of Business
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Fashion Design, Nursing
Penn Foster Schools
Aircraft, Automotive, Bartending, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Culinary Arts, Dental Assistant, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Fashion Design, Machinist, Plumber, Television and Film, Web Design and Web Management
Rasumssen College Online
Arts and Design, Automotive, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Fashion Design
Regis University
Gaming, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
South University Online
Business, Computers and Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Secretarial, Telecommunications
Stevens-Henager Online
Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia
Stratford Career Institute
Automotive, Bartending, Culinary Arts, Dental Assistant, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Fashion Design, Gaming, Machinist, Plumber, Television and Film
Strayer University
Arts and Design, Automotive, Bartending, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Ultimate Medical Academy Online
Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty
University of Liverpool
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
University of Phoenix
Arts and Design, Automotive, Bartending, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Utica College
Healthcare Office Management, Nursing, Travel
Virginia College
Arts and Design, Bartending, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Dental Assistant, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Healthcare and Medical, Massage Therapy, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Walden University
Arts and Design, Automotive, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Nursing, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Travel
Western International University Interactive Online
Arts and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Construction, Cosmetology, Barbering and Beauty, Criminal Justice, Electronics and HVAC, Fashion Design, Healthcare and Medical, Healthcare Office Management, Massage Therapy, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Secretarial, Telecommunications, Travel, Web Design and Web Management
Westwood College
Arts and Design, Business, Computers and Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia, Electronics and HVAC, Gaming, Healthcare and Medical, Paralegal, Private Investigation, Rehabilitational Therapy, Telecommunications, Television and Film, Web Design and Web Management